Levi had said many times that there was no right or wrong choice, until the moment after it was chosen.

They still had a lot to learn. But there were some that had understood about it; Armin and Mikasa, for example. Armin, for shooting the woman. Mikasa, for hurting Levi's ankle. And there was Historia, who chose to live under her real name back. Not to mention Eren.

Jean had learned from the previous experience—about his hesitance for shooting the woman, putting his life and others in danger. But still, Levi couldn't blame him from trusting that girl from Military Police. They did not trust her, eventually. But Marlowe insisted to bring her along.

And Levi couldn't blame him either.

Both Marlowe and Jean didn't say anything, but judging from the look, he knew they felt guilty. If Marlowe didn't insist on bringing Hitch, if Jean didn't trust Marlowe… then Sasha and Mikasa wouldn't have been kidnapped.

"I'm sure they are fine." Levi had finally said. "They are soldiers. They can take care of themselves… knees, elbows. Trust me, girls know what to do with them."

They were in the ceiling. The dark, small but also long lane that made them feel slightly claustrophobic. They almost didn't make it there after being caught by some guard, and that was when they realized Mikasa and Sasha were gone.

"That girl, Hitch… if I'd have known what she'd do, I'd—"

"Stop, Jean." Levi didn't sound mad, he just sounded tired, and he was. He had witnessed many things these days; Nifa was killed before him by Kenny, they were being chased by Central Brigade MP, Armin shot a woman…

"Remember our mission. We still have to find Eren and Historia. Then, we find Mikasa and Sasha." He was using his Corporal voice, where he gave them orders. "Jean and Armin, you follow me behind. I'm going down there,"—he pointed to ventilation hole—"prepare for your blade and gun. I heard some voices down there."

He turned to Connie and Marlowe. "You two stay here and watch over us. If some guards come after us, prepare for your gun."

He saw them both becoming pale. "We have no time to hesitate, remember that." He let himself gazing over Jean as he said that. And he started crawling toward the hole. He looked down and saw a woman, wearing white shirt and black pants with those straps over her shirt, just like all those guards, in fact, just like all people in here.

He quietly removed the bars and went down. He lifted a finger to Armin and Jean, stating them not to come until he ordered them to. He slowly walked up to the woman whose back turned to him. He had done this thousand of times ever since he was little. He knew how not to make sound. He kept his mouth shut, he didn't put his weight lightly on his footsteps.

The woman didn't even turn around when he clasped a hand on her mouth and pressing the blade on her neck with his other hand.

"One sound, and you'll die." He hissed through her ear. He hated this. He hated to do harm to innocent people. He didn't care if the woman was in his enemy's side, but he still hated it—

He felt his ribs getting elbowed hard, his left ankle getting kicked, making him fall. And the next thing he knew, he was on the floor, on his stomach, with his blade pressing on his neck, and pain shot through his left ankle.

"One step and your Corporal will be hurt."

He saw Jean and Armin in front of them. Jean with blades in both of his hands, and Armin pointing a gun to the woman. The woman was kneeling beside Levi, but she was also pointing a gun to Levi's leg with her other hand. He couldn't see her face but he recognized her voice clearly. But it couldn't be—

The woman turned her face to him.

Petra.

She smirked at him before turning back to Armin and Jean. "Now, Rookie, it's two against one, right? Can't you see I even managed to bring down Humanity's Strongest Soldier? I can do the same thing to you easier." She looked up at the ceiling, Levi couldn't see Connie and Marlowe, but he knew they were watching. "And if your friends start shooting me, I'll have to use your Corporal as a shield, like he did with my friend."

A memory of one of the things he witness now came before his eyes; it was true. He was killing someone and using his dead body as a shield.

He didn't recognize her right away because she looked different; her hair was longer. Or maybe the last time he had seen her was when she got blood over her face he hardly recognized her, he didn't know.

"Of course, he'll be more useful alive. But we don't have any choice, do we?"

"You…" Armin's voice was merely a trembling whisper.

"What? Surprised that I'm alive and well? Unfortunately, we have no time to talk about it. Tell your friends to come down."

Without a sound, Connie and Marlowe came down, as the guards burst into the room. Armin and Jean still pointed the weapon to her, she was still pressing his blade to his neck. He should think of something, fast. But he couldn't. Petra—she was here, alive.

And… on the enemy's side.

She let go of him as one of the guard pulling him up and tied his hand. He saw her walking outside the room.

He couldn't believe it, but he needed to know—"Petra."

She stopped.

"What about the others?"

She knew he was asking about Erd, Gunther, and Auruo.

"They're good as dead."

She started walking again, but for one moment, he saw her turning her head to him, and they looked into each other's eyes. Just for one moment. And she was outside.

Petra wanted to tell him more, but she couldn't. She saw the unspoken questions from his eyes. How could you be alive? I saw you dead. How could you even survive? I saw your body thrown from the cart. How could you? Did you mean it?

Did she mean what?

Did she mean the tears that fell from her eyes when she watched her friends—fellow soldiers—died? Yes.

Did she mean the revenge she'd do for Gunther? Yes.

Did she mean to kill the Female-Titan? Yes.

Did she mean her kisses to him? Yes, yes, yes.

She couldn't tell him those. They were enemies, they always had been, and would be.

And yet they were not supposed to fall for each other.

But he didn't need to know if she meant it. Nor he didn't need to know that sometimes she woke up at midnight, one hand touch her stomach, missing his arm around her. He didn't need to know that she'd still get a nightmare from watching Erd, Gunther, and Auruo died. He didn't need to know that she'd still see Eren being taken away in her dreams. He didn't need to know that.

She was always longing to see him again; it was almost painful for both of them. Him, not knowing she was alive. Her, wanting to see him but she couldn't.

And when they met, they simply couldn't do anything.

Levi was loyal to Scout Legion.

Petra already had her loyalty to others, even before she joined the Scout Legion and be an undercover.

She tried to imagine for his voices accusing her; You fucking traitor. You lied to me. You should be ashamed of your fucking self. Because in that way, it would make it easier for her when she'd face him again.

But then she recalled the way he looked at her—it wasn't hatred. It wasn't like he was disgusted of her.

It was the relief of knowing she was alive and in a good condition.

And that would make it even harder for her.